Hawaii Nature Tours

Hawaii Nature Tours have become very popular over the last few years. Especially in connection with Eco-Tourism and Agra-Tourism, Hawaii has become a very popular destination to re-connect with nature and its resources.

Even though for some people Hawaii stands for a beach and a party, others seek to find peace and tranquility in the untouched beauty of the islands.

Many of the hiking trails offer a way to escape the busy tourist attractions and a way to experience wilderness adventures and sites of cultural heritage that are off the usual tourist's path.

Watch the panoramic view of some of the finest hikes on Oahu.

A great way to explore forests, valleys, orchards and ranches is on horseback. Horseback riding is available in Haleiwa (North Shore) and Kualoa Ranch (close to Kaneohe). Enjoy spectacular views on these Hawaii Nature tours (with the extra kick) for the whole family.

Footnote: Even though Kualoa Ranch is beautiful and has a bigger reputation they also charge more for their tours. I like the North Shore tour better. It is longer, too!!

If you want to explore the island on your own, you can get stunning views on many of the hiking trails. The Koolau mountain range offers many trails for beginners, and advanced hikers, too.

I personally like a small hidden trail behind Waimanalo that brings you to the top of the mountain in about 20 minutes. At the top you have great views of the long white sand beaches of Waimanalo and when you turn around you can see Sandy beach.

Of course this is a pretty difficult trail, so if I just want to stroll, I love to go to the Makapuu Lighthouse This has a nice paved trail (a little bit of an uphill trip) that leads you to the best whale watching spot on the island.

For a great view over Waikiki and Honolulu I recommend the trail up to the Diamond Head Crater. I suggest that you bring along a small pocket flashlight since there is a dark tunnel to get through before you reach the top.

For the most accurate info on Hawaii hiking trails visit http://www.backyardoahu.com.

Mountainbiking on Oahu

In connection with Hawaii Nature Tours Mountain Biking has also become very popular on Oahu. I use my bike on trails that are too long to hike and don’t lead back to the starting point.

TIP: For some long tours it is recommended that you use two cars if you have that luxury. Park one at the end the trail and use the other one to get to the start.

I found the Kaawa Valley tour online at www.trails.com. This is a guided tour that includes a bike, helmet, water bottle and barbecue lunch after the ride. It is an excellent experience. The Kaaawa Valley (where they filmed some stuff of "Lost") is beautiful and we certainly didn’t regret doing it.

Kaaawa Valley - backdrop for many movies and TV shows

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